When Pharma Overrides the Hippocratic Oath: Why isn’t there a cure already?

Arthuritis

For centuries, the Hippocratic Oath has guided doctors to act in the best interests of their patients. But what happens when the medical establishment—deeply intertwined with pharmaceutical industry profits—turns against those who challenge its dogma? The cases of Dr. John Lykoudis and Dr. Barry Marshall expose a troubling reality: when commercial interests dictate medical “truth,” real cures can be suppressed for decades.

Dr. Lykoudis: A Cure That Wasn’t Profitable

In the late 1950s, Greek physician Dr. John Lykoudis observed that peptic ulcers might be linked to bacterial infection rather than stress or excess stomach acid. After successfully treating his own ulcer with antibiotics in 1958, he developed a treatment regimen he called “Elgaco” and administered it to his patients. Over the years, it’s estimated that he treated more than 30,000 patients with this antibiotic therapy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lykoudis

However, instead of being lauded for his innovative approach, Lykoudis faced severe opposition. In 1968, the Athens Medical Association’s Disciplinary Committee fined him 4,000 drachmas for administering an unapproved treatment and for publicizing his method to attract patients.

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/h-pylori-plausibility-and-greek-tragedy-the-case-of-dr-john-lykoudis

Despite his efforts, his findings were dismissed by the medical community, which remained committed to the prevailing belief that ulcers were caused by excess acid—a theory that supported the lucrative market for acid-suppressing drugs.

Dr. Barry Marshall: Drinking Bacteria to Prove a Point

Fast forward to the early 1980s. Australian physician Dr. Barry Marshall, along with pathologist Dr. Robin Warren, identified a spiral-shaped bacterium, later named Helicobacter pylori, in patients with gastritis and peptic ulcers. They hypothesized that this bacterium, not stress or spicy food, was the primary cause of these conditions.

Facing skepticism from the medical community, Marshall took a bold step in 1984: he ingested a culture of H. pylori, developed gastritis, and then cured himself with antibiotics. This self-experiment provided compelling evidence supporting their hypothesis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_peptic_ulcer_disease_and_Helicobacter_pylori

Despite this dramatic demonstration, acceptance was slow. The medical community had long been influenced by pharmaceutical interests promoting acid-suppressing medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which were designed for long-term management rather than a cure. It wasn’t until 1994, a full 10 years after Marshall’s self-experiment, that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) officially recognized H. pylori as the primary cause of peptic ulcers and recommended antibiotic treatment.

https://cioviews.com/life-science-diamonds-in-the-rough

In 2005, Marshall and Warren were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_peptic_ulcer_disease_and_Helicobacter_pylori

Yet, even with this recognition, the shift in medical practice was gradual, as entrenched interests and established treatment protocols took time to change.

The System Is Built to Resist Change

The experiences of Drs. Lykoudis and Marshall highlight a systemic issue: the intertwining of medical practice with pharmaceutical profits can hinder the adoption of effective treatments. Several factors contribute to this resistance:

•Medical Education: Curricula often emphasize established treatments, with limited exposure to emerging theories that challenge the status quo.

•Regulatory Agencies: Approval processes can be influenced by pharmaceutical companies, especially when new treatments threaten existing profitable drugs.

•Medical Journals: Research that contradicts prevailing medical beliefs or threatens major revenue streams may face publication bias.

•Professional Ostracism: Physicians proposing unconventional treatments risk professional isolation, legal challenges, and damage to their careers.

The Battle Continues Today

The reluctance to adopt antibiotic treatment for peptic ulcers wasn’t just a matter of scientific debate; it had significant financial implications. The global market for proton pump inhibitors was valued at approximately $2.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $4.9 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%.

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/proton-pump-inhibitors-market

This substantial market provides a strong incentive to maintain the status quo. Even today, PPIs remain among the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide, often for extended periods, despite the availability of curative antibiotic regimens for H. pylori-induced ulcers. This raises critical questions about how financial interests can shape medical practice and patient care.

The stories of Lykoudis and Marshall serve as poignant reminders that medicine must prioritize patient well-being over profits. They underscore the importance of fostering an environment where innovative ideas can be explored and validated without undue influence from commercial interests. Only then can the true spirit of the Hippocratic Oath be upheld.

This is a recurrent theme, but rarely is the enthusiasm with which progress is suppressed so well documented.

Trish9556

Hi @Arthuritis

Good to see you back, I hope you are doing OK? My short answer is simply that sometimes I think the pharmaceutical companies are not really interested in finding a cause and a cure. They make too much money out of not curing us!

Love n hugs

Trish xx

Arthuritis

@Trish9556 I agree with your thoughts, as do many NHS consultants who said the same thing (privately). The pharma companies have this down pat after lessons learnt from Marshall & the tobacco companies, not on how to be ethical, but how not to get caught - have enough influence over policy makers both directly and indirectly, (through well meaning doctors and charities that have been educated through a system heavily influenced and funded by pharma, so never think to challenge or rock the boat).

Arthuritis

@Trish9556 Sadly not doing well. Fell out of complete remission (2 years of drug free, symptom free with imaging & serology proof at the hosp), through a single event that triggered a flare loop, and now going through the exact same steps I did when first diagnosed and being enrolled on to MTX. Hospital (Teaching & Resesrch hosp) showed absolutely no interest in why or how I managed for so long without any meds. All I got was “there is no funding to study this and so it’s not our job to do so.” Like being too busy chopping wood with a blunt axe to stop and sharpen it.

Arthuritis

@Trish9556 Not sure if the various arthritis charities would fund such research, or would there be a conflict with sponsors?

frogmorton

Hi @Arthuritis totally agreed with the whole of your Original post yes yes yes!!

I am sure my reflux is fixable just don't know how to convince my GP when I annoy them so much already with other rubbish, but gosh it would be amazing to ditch one medication wouldn't it? Just one?🙄

Versus Arthritis do fund research don't they? Maybe what we need is a university interested in studying remission who could then apply for a VA grant🤔

Just a thought

Take care you know we are always here for each other

Toni x

Trish9556

@Arthuritis

@frogmorton

Hi both, I think PPIs are massively over prescribed and don't necessarily work. I was put on them and took them for about three years. They made me ill and it wasn't until one Dr messed around with my meds I realised what it was causing the constant pain and early morning bouts of diarrhoea. I stopped taking them and was given gaviscon liquid which was literally like a magic wand. No more reflux and no more early morning pain and diarrhoea since October.

Another Dr then put me on Famotidine which I took for two months. Finished that at end end of January and I can happily say that I don't even need to restart the Gaviscon either. I quite like the Dr who prescribed me the famotidine and told me I was taking too many meds and we would get rid of some. That's two meds down and see what he says next time.

I not sure about who should be responsible for funding research and new meds the same way I'm not sure about who should continue to monitor meds once in use.

Having had some rely awful Dr's in my life I am however sure that there are some that actually have ears that work and want to help. It's just really hard to find them.

I sorry you're suffering Arthritis and I really hope you can find some real support and someone e who is willing to do the research into life without meds.

Toni, not sure if you're on PPIs but if you are, research them, or try gaviscon! You can get it on prescription and I just carry the pill version when I'm out and about and eating.

Love n hugs to both

Trish xx

Arthuritis

@frogmorton @Trish9556 A bit of light entertainment - dramatisation of what really happens in Big Industry (in this case, Pharma).
Legal drama, U.S.

Cloak and Beaker

Bull: Season 5, Episode 8

Bull heads to federal court for a client accused of stealing his own scientific research from the company he works for, a corporation he says buried his ground-breaking work because selling medication is more profitable than curing diseases.

Well set out episode based on a recurrent real life theme.

I bought the episode (£2.49) on Amazon Prime just because it was so uncannily accurate. (Seen it in past professional life).

Trish9556

@Arthuritis

I will check that out! Thank you

Trish

Arthuritis

@frogmorton I think you may have to go full Dr Barry Marshall! PPIs are a short term med, long term it’s bad news, as it covers up the cause of your excess acid production.

You need a doc that will eliminate

1. bacterial/parasitic cause - a cheap 2 week course of antibiotics usually fixes this, until the next dodgy midnight kebab.

2. Test you for EBV/Vagus nerve function. This if your reflux started suddenly particularly after a viral illness. Glandular fever is often suspected of knackering the vagus nerve control that prevents stomach acid from leaking back up your throat. If that’s the case and the vagus is not able to firmly shut it, your only non surgical recourse is to lose weight and avoid spicy food & garlic. Also usually sleeping elevated or on the left.

3. Endoscopy if 1 & 2 offer no progress.

GP can do 1, and test 2, the rest needs a specialist referral.

You need to get your reflux under control & regularly monitored. Your GP should be scheduling you for 2 year checks.

Hope that helps.

Arthuritis

@Trish9556 Do we know who funds VA & to what extent?
Turkey & Christmas come to mind…. 😉

Trish9556

Hi @Arthuritis

Interesting reading! Thank you. It did reiterate in me though how useless my gp surgery is as all the time I was on PPIs I was never given any flow up calls or tests.

Trish

frogmorton

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/731648#Comment_731648

It's a charity isn't it? If you look on the main VA page I think the address is there.

Thanks for the advice, but not sure my GP would be in the slightest bit interested. I've got a label and they seem happy enough to put everything down to that.

"Test you for EBV/Vagus nerve function. This if your reflux started suddenly particularly after a viral illness. Glandular fever is often suspected of knackering the vagus nerve control that prevents stomach acid from leaking back up your throat. If that’s the case and the vagus is not able to firmly shut it, your only non surgical recourse is to lose weight and avoid spicy food & garlic. Also usually sleeping elevated or on the left."

I always sleep on left and elevated if needs be (eaten late) I carefully avoid garlic and normal onions (use spring onions instead) and replace flavourings with asafoetida instead - it helps.

Take care (())

Toni x

Arthuritis

@frogmorton It seems you have pretty much discovered all the useful non surgical stuff about reflux already ☺️. It’s a shame there’s little been done to find out how to restore the control signals that arrived on the Vagus. There’s pacemaker type stuff for the heart but little for vagus & reflux. The nerve is still there, but the neurones that posted the lower oesophageal sphincter signal isn’t being sent in a controlled way anymore, instead it is seen under endoscopy to be randomly opening and closing like a demented lift door.

I did actually scour the VA site with more advanced tools and drilled further behind entities like the BioIndustry Association (BIA), which represents over 420 companies in the bioscience sector, or a major donor like Janssen, that makes biologics. While VA has policies that are intended to manage conflict of interest, the only real proof would be if it vigorously and transparently sponsors research into remission that terminated profits from chronic treatments and ensures such research is insulated from pharma leaning advisors. Perhaps with regular results like Zoe’s Prof Tamiko Matsumoto work into remission.

There is an inherent tension between the commercial interests of pharmaceutical companies and the pursuit of remission or cure. The profitability of these companies often depends on the continued use of their products, which may not always align with the goal of achieving long-term remission or a cure for patients.

These are things that should be openly discussed , ie nothing to hide.